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10 rare photos of royals using cell phones that you probably haven't seen
10 rare photos of royals using cell phones that you probably haven't seen
Mikhaila FrielDec 19, 2020, 17:22 IST
Princes William, Charles, and Harry laugh at something on a cell phone during the Invictus Games.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Members of the British royal family usually aren't seen using cell phones — also called mobile phones in the UK — in public.
It's considered against protocol for royals to take selfies with fans at events, according to one person who attended the Queen's garden party in 2017.
The royals themselves have broken this rule on multiple occasions, taking selfies both with fans and friends alike.
It has also become more common for the family to use their own cell phones at public engagements.
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Members of the royal family are rarely seen using cell phones in public, and that's because protocol dictates that nobody should turn their back to the Queen.
A fan takes a sneaky selfie with the Queen, who appears not to be aware of the camera.
PETER MACDIARMID/AFP via Getty Images
This rule has been broken on multiple occasions. Prince William and Kate Middleton posed for a photo with a member of the Manchester Inspirational Voices during their royal tour of the UK earlier this month.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posed for a rare selfie.
GEOFF PUGH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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And while this rule is usually broken when royals take pictures on fans' phones ...
The Duchess of Cornwall.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
... they sometimes take selfies with friends like the rest of us. In this photo, the Queen's former granddaughter-in-law Autumn Phillips posed with a friend at Royal Ascot.
Autumn Phillips (right) and Anna-Louise Felstead.
Max Mumby/Getty Images
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Sometimes the royals will take a break from official engagements to look at their phones. In this photo, Prince William and Prince Harry share the screen with Prince Charles at the Invictus Games in 2014.
Prince Charles is shown something funny on Prince William's phone.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
On a rare occasion, the royals require a phone for the engagement. This photo shows the Duchess of Cambridge taking part in an Instagram Q&A for her official social media accounts.
The Duchess of Cambridge took part in an Early Years Q&A, reading questions off her phone.
Kensington Palace
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Prince William was pictured using a flip phone during a visit to Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital back in 2005.
The Duke of Cambridge in 2005.
PHIL NOBLE/AFP via Getty Images
In 2017, Harry was spotted taking a photo on his cell phone as he watched the Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex used his phone to take a picture.
Adrian Dennis - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth was shown a Blackberry phone during a visit to the Research In Motion factory that made the product in Waterloo, Canada in 2010.
Queen Elizabeth is shown a Blackberry phone.
John Stillwell - Pool/Getty Images
But the most famous instance of Her Majesty using a phone has to be in a trailer for the Invictus Games in 2016, when Harry showed her a video message from President Obama and Michelle Obama saying team US would "bring it" at the tournament.
Prince Harry shows the monarch a picture on his phone.
BBC News